Spring…

Is on everyone’s mind in the Midwest. Spring. Sunshine. Warm weather. Green instead of white. Although in my business I tend to walk around like Pig Pen from the cartoon Charlie Brown with trails of plaster dust. It’s one of the hazards of the trade. But I digress.

As we spring ahead time wise, we’re turning our thoughts spring wise and garden wise. Admittedly, I’m not much of a gardener, but enjoy sitting outside under our grape arbor. Although the bulk of Plaster Gallery, LLC’s business is selling medallions and moldings, we do carry elements for outdoor use such as the Terra Cotta swag.

Terra Cotta Swag

We have one next to other garden elements.  It gives the space a rustic Romanesque feel.

Having friends in cities with very limited outdoor space or some with balconies on the smallish side, I’m always on the lookout for interesting ways to bring gardens to them.  Check out this idea for a vertical garden i.e. rain gutter garden.

Rain Gutter Garden

http://www.countryliving.com/outdoor/rain-gutters-garden#slide-4

Intriguing even for those of us with a little more space. It’s a nice way to grow herbs or other plants and not have to risk back strain weeding and garden tending. Also you can assemble the structure inside to start seedlings and move it outside when the weather truly warms up. In Wisconsin, we call that July.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about garden décor, gardening in general or use of decorative plaster. And in case anyone out there is wondering, we can cast ceiling medallions in lightweight concrete for outdoor use.